The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-09-18
THE NEW UMPIRE.

used to be the brightest fellow IN Trot-
terville and popular, too, but lately no
body seems to speak to him and there is
little left of his old geniality.
Charley" 1 said to him the other
day, what is the matter with your"
"Oh, nothing" answered Charley, de-
jectedly.
Nonsense" replied, "there is some
thing wrong. What is it? Anything l
can help you about2"
"Well," he said with sigh, sit isn't
anything'serious. The trouble, if itcan
be called trouble, dates from the found
alton of the Trotterville Baseball Club
why, 1 thought you were active In
getting up the club?"
$50 was; so was. It's good club,
too, but you see don't play and l am
the umpire and -"
II see how it is.
eyes, that's what's the matter.
don't seem to be able to please anybody.
They're all down on me-"
Look here" 1 said, ~ know a fellow
in Detroit who used to be league UNI
pire. Let me bring him over. He is a
little fellow, but don't think they will
growl much at his decisions"
Next day 1 met Bill Higgins and
asked him to come over to Trotterville
and umpire game, and l posted him
on the kind of kickers the Trottervillians
were. Higgins is an Englishman, who
used to be one of the cowboys in Buffalo
Bills Wild West show, but, for some
reason. Higgins did not care to go back
| to England with the company, and so is
Gus of a job just now. Bill used to 90
the fancy shooting and some of the
lasso exercises, and is tough customer.
When we got to the Trotterville
grounds the game was in progress and
Charley was umpiring.
lone strikel" he cried, as the ball
came over the plate.
Whats that you say2" cried the
captain of the ms, as he marched up
threateningly to the umpire.
II said strike"
THAT wasn't no strike; the ball was
below the knee" This statement was
loudly corroborated by the man at the
| bat.
well, l thought it was strike, "said
the umpire.
ut wasn't all the same" the ms were
unanimous in saying.
"All right. Call it one bail then"
Whats that! What's thatl" yelled
the captain of the outs, as he marched
from the field.
ION. come down, go on with the
game" said the bewiIdered umpire.
You said strike" shouted the out
captain, land by George, you've got to
stick to it."
mot if he is wrong, as he admits, u
said the in captain.
Wrong nothing. It's strike. He
said so. Hang such umpiring."
"See here" said the umpire, anxious
for peace, let's call that off and begin
again"
After some grnmbling this was agreed
to and tn game went on. This man at
the bat hit the ball ana ran for the first
base. The ball was very cleverlY stop
ped by the second baseman and thrown
to first, ball and batsman getting there
about the same time. The umpire had
run down to first and stood there with
indecision. Darn if l know which is
out he said helplessly. There was a
yelled the outs, Safe, safe!" shouted
the ms, all gathering around the first
base. There was a wild wrangle be-
!
turned to appeal to the umpire they
found that that individual had taken
the opportunity to get over the fence
and go home.
This gentleman" 1 said to the two
captains, was umpire in the league last
summer. Perhaps he would see the
game through for you" They united
in inviting him to take the vacant post,
and he consented. They new umpire
threw off his coat and unwound from
his body a loag, thin rope, which he
flung on the ground. Then he frightened
his belt and said: "Toss that ball here. "
The pitcher tossed the ball to him.
That balls no good" said the new
umpire.
whats the matter with it?" growled
one of the new captains.
"Wellit's no good. That's what's the
matter with it,"
"WelI, we ain league club, and we
can't afford no $1.5O balls on this
ground" said the captain, somewhat
cowed by the resolute demeanor of the
little umpire.
The umpire flung the ball into the air,
then putting his hand to his hip pulled
out big revolver and fired as it came
down. The baseball few into dozen
plcCco' 1ucIO W do q VI VI duudLcIuouG
and dismay. They had no other ball.
The umpire went to where his coat was
lying on the ground, brought from the
pocket familiar red-labelad box, tore
it open, took out new ball and tossed
it to the pitcher.
There" he said, "I'll make you a
present of that one. Now, then, play
ball"
I'm came the hall.
lone ball."
Up it came again.
1.-TWO ballsl"
"Three ballsI"
The pitcher took fresh hold on the
ball and rubbed it in the sand.
-Four balls!"
Next time the ratified pitcher flung
wide of the plate.
Five balls. Take your base"
The batsman dropped his club and
trotted down to first base. The captain
of the outs came marching toward the
umpire. mad clear through.
The umpire at once put his hand TO
his hip and cried:
What are you coming out of the
field for, sir?"
"I-I-I want to speak to the
pitcher" said the captain.
"All right" said the umpire; be quick